The HEA Cafe

I had the best of intentions.  I actually wrote my post for the blog a week ago because I’m on vacation this week in the Great Smoky Mountains and I wasn’t sure what type of access I would have to the internet.  Luckily, I have wired internet access since I forgot to upload my post before I left.  Unfortunately I didn’t bring the drive I’d saved my blog on when I packed up the laptop, so I’m winging it. 

 Not a comfortable feeling for me.  If you read Linda’s post on introverts, you’ll understand.  I think I answered true to each and every item on the list.  I’m as introverted as they come.  Why am I taking a chance to write something I haven’t had a time to edit, polish and reread four times before I hit post?

 Because I made a commitment.  Time after time writers say the most important part of writing is the story.  I agree but I think the second most important is keeping your word.  If you volunteer to help at Nationals, serve as an officer for your local chapter or agree to write a monthly post to a group blog, then do it.  Don’t wait to see if something better comes along or slid out with a feeble excuse if it gets too hard.  Why?  Keeping commitments is an important part of becoming a successful writer.  Publishing houses need writers to meet deadlines.  Miss too many and you might just have trouble selling that next book.  If they can’t depend on you, people don’t want to work with you, whether that person is a member of your chapter, your dream agent or a publisher. 

 So, even if you have to come in from the hot tub with the view of the mountains while rain patters on the tin roof to write a blog post off the top of your head, do it.  You’ll feel better about yourself and find that keeping commitments becomes a habit.

Image via Wikipedia

I love the Fourth of July, and always have.  When I was a youngster we would hope that Dad made a summer business trip to Wisconsin, where he could buy legal fireworks and bring them home to Minnesota, much to Mom’s dismay.  But there’s something about loud, noisy explosions that just make the holiday come alive (provided you don’t blow your fingers off–how many times did I hear that every summer?).

Our nation’s love of pyrotechnics to celebrate Independence Day goes back to our Founding Fathers, and John Adams, who said in a letter to his wife Abigail, “The day will be the most memorable in America.  I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival…it ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade…bonfires and illuminations (fireworks) from one end of this continent to the other, from this day forward, forevermore.”

And speaking of John Adams, he’s who I want blurbing my next book.  I’m reading Cokie Roberts’ Ladies of Liberty (highly recommended) and ran across a line that made me grin real hard:

“But they didn’t lead a retired life…John Adams, so accustomed to having Abigail run everything, took to reading romance novels, much to his wife’s amazement, and continued to rely on her to manage their finances.”

I’d love to know what he was reading!
Fireworks and illuminations on July 4th make me think of my own writing of historical romance, and the serendipitous moments that fall into your lap. I realized that if my WIP’s current action is set around autumn 1814, I might be able to work in the burning of Washington and the battle of Fort McHenry. Sure enough, my dates coincided and suddenly I had a whole new scene referencing the rockets’ red glare from the poem “Defence of Fort McHenry”, better known to us as The Star Spangled Banner, by Francis Scott Key.

So if you’re one of the millions of Americans celebrating your nation’s independence and the beginnings of our growth as a beacon of democracy and freedom to the world, don’t forget to remember the men and women who made this all possible then, as well as the men and women who defend our shores today.  Remember, some of them, like you (and like John Adams) are romance readers!

I recently read an interesting article on introverts in a little Canadian magazine called Homemakers. I found it fascinating to get a deeper look at myself and I began to wonder, are writers interverts and how introverted are they?

I did some research:

Definition: Contrary to what most people think, an introvert is not simply a person who is shy. In fact, being shy has little to do with being an introvert! Shyness has an element of apprehension, nervousness and anxiety, and while an introvert may also be shy, introversion itself is not shyness. Basically, an introvert is a person who is energized by being alone and whose energy is drained by being around other people.

Introverts are more concerned with the inner world of the mind. They enjoy thinking, exploring their thoughts and feelings. They often avoid social situations because being around people drains their energy. This is true even if they have good social skills. After being with people for any length of time, such as at a party, they need time alone to “recharge.”

(from http://behavioural-psychology.suite101.com/article.cfm/am_i_an_introvert)

Why not take the quizz and see how introverted you are? Simply answer each question true or false.

The Introverts’ Test: Personality Characteristics

1. When I need to rest, I prefer to spend time alone or with one or two other people rather than with a group.
2. I feel anxious if I have a deadline or pressure to finish a project.
3. People sometimes say I’m aloof, quiet, and calm – and hard to get to know.
4. I usually think first before talking – I rarely blurt my thoughts without editing them in my head.
5. I sometimes react strongly to smells, touches, tastes, sounds, and people.

The Introverts’ Test: At Work, School or Home

1. When I work on work or home projects, I like to have large uninterrupted chunks of time.
2. I write notes to myself before having conversations with people.
3. I like to share special occasions with just one person, or a few close friends, rather than a large group of people.
4. I notice details that others don’t see, such as facial expressions or movements.
5. If I say I will do something, I almost always do it.
6. I can zone out if too much is going on.
7. It takes me time to sort through large amounts of information, such as reports at work or long stories from friends.
8. I often dread returning phone calls.
9. My mind sometimes goes blank when I’m asked a question or caught off guard.

The Introverts’ Test: Social Situations

1. I don’t enjoy being the center of attention or in the spotlight.
2. Groups of people make me uncomfortable or nervous.
3. I sometimes rehearse things before speaking.
4. In general, I prefer to listen to other people over talking.
5. I don’t like hugely stimulating experiences, such as rides at an amusement park.
6. I have few friends, but they’re very close to me.
7. I feel drained after social situations, even when I have a good time.
8. I like to watch a group or activity for awhile before I join in.
9. When people have an argument or heated discussion, I notice the tension in the air.

The Results of the Introverts’ Test

Add up the number of Trues in this test for introversion. The higher your score, the more introverted you are; scores range from “highly introverted” to “more extroverted than introverted.”

So how did you score? How introverted are writers?

For some more info and coping skills see this site.

http://www.homemakers.com/Life&Times/relationships/the-introvert-s-guide-to-understanding-extroverts-n258262p1.html

And for all us introverts… what are your coping skills in a world of extroverts?

Linda